Professional Experience:
Fox in a Box®, Minneapolis, Minnesota
November 1998 to Present
Position: Top Dog
Fox in a Box® was founded in November, 1998 with the primary intent of providing freelance graphic services. Package production is the company specialty. In addition, design, general production, project coordination, web development and illustration are some of the many services offered. Since the formation of the company, I have worked with area design firms and Fortune 500 companies. The types of projects I have worked on include: packaging (cartons, tubs, plastic bags), collateral materials (brochures, flyers, sale sheets, etc.), manuals, FSIs, annual reports, logo development, cookbooks, invitations, mock-ups, and converting the ideas and pencil drawings of client creative personnel into digital art.
Millennium Design Group, Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 1997 to November 1998
Position: Production Manager
Millennium Design Group has two areas of focus: Package Production and 3D Illustration. My responsibilities included project coordination, trafficking, overseeing production artists, hands-on art production, and working directly with clients and suppliers. While at MDG, I learned 3D art techniques using Strata Studio software. During my employment, I coordinated two large projects, each containing over 200 SKUs. Organization was the key element to producing these projects. I was responsible for working directly with the client, managing internal personnel, hiring freelance talent, organizing all incoming information, attending bi-weekly status meetings, producing electronic keylines, overseeing quality control and delivering final files to the seperator.
SKUzzio, St. Louis, Missouri
May 1996 to May 1997
Position: Production Manager
The Production Manager position at SKUzzio was new for the company. Initial responsibilities: establishing written procedures, creating filing systems for both electronic and hardcopy materials, formulating production workflows and paperwork. Also, it was my responsibility to guide designers to create clean, produceable files and enhance the skills of computer operators in package production. I worked directly with clients and vendors regarding production concerns and limitations, always maintaining close working relationships. Other responsibilities included supervising production personnel, advising designers about printing limitations, routing designs for final approval, sending finished keylines to the client and separator. Daily duties included hands-on production time, package assembly, re-creating logos and creating mock-ups of comps. I was also responsible for establishing a yearly budget for production needs and assisting in the evaluation and recommendation of hardware and software. My greatest accomplishment was becoming the "glue" that kept the SKUzzio together and working smoothly.
MCP Company, Incorporated, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
December 1990 to May 1996
Position: Computer Graphics Coordinator
Manager of the pre-press Macintosh department. Responsibilities included: recommendation, testing and implementation of hardware and software, network and workstation maintenance and troubleshooting, training and supervising personnel. While at MCP, I developed and maintained inter-departmental procedures and managed all jobs through the electronic process. Also performed electronic stripping of packaging, catalogs, point-of-purchase, giftwrap, ads and miscellaneous posters. Answered client computer questions and helped them with issues of compatibility and project preparation, ensuring smooth processing through the pre-press cycle. Provided training and assisted internal sales, customer service and estimating departments. Developed internal marketing materials.
Milwaukee Graphic Arts Institute, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 1992 to fall 1996
Position: Macintosh Instructor
Instructed adults within the printing industry on basic and intermediate Macintosh courses. Responsibilities included: preparing class material, teaching, testing and grading students. Classes covered Beginning Macintosh, Adobe Illustrator, Quark XPress, and Adobe Photoshop. Students used the acquired basic skills to complete a series of projects using all three programs. The projects ranged from simple ad pages, gatefolded brochures, basic packaging construction, and assembling a newsletter. Throughout the classes, it was important to associate the electronic workflow with the "conventional" workflow.
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